Universal connection



Sept. 24, 1940.

J. w. L EIGHTON UNIVERSAL CONNECTION Filed Nov. 1, 1937 m N m T T Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED. STATES" The invention relates'generally to pivotal connections and it has particular relation to a pivot- I a1 connection 'of universal joint character for connecting a shock absorber arm to a part of avehicle. One object of the invention is to provide'an improved and inexpensive linkage for connecting the arm of a shock absorber to apart of the vehicle such as thespring. Another object of the invention 'is'to provide an improved pivotal connection of universal character for connecting linkage, which will'allow free turning movement in one'plane and limited turning movement in other planes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient means for lubricating a'pivotal connection such as set forth previously.

Another object of theinvention is to provide simple and efiicient means for adjusting aco'nnection of the above designated character so as to compensate for variations such as that caused H by wear and enable obtaining a smooth fitting connection at all times.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawing to which it relates, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View illustrating the manner of connecting the shock absorber, to

the vehicle spring according to one form of the invention; j t

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view'on a larger scale taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale taken substantially along the line 3'3 of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 4 is a' view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating another form of the invention. j w

Referring to Fig. l, the chassis frame of the motor vehicle is indicated at ID, a shock absorber secured to theframe is indicated at H, and one of the conventional leaf springs is indicated at cal shell section 20.

linkage [8 may be. formed from a strip of sheet steel that is stamped or pressed between die members to form the U-shaped body section and the The arm connected to the shaft I3 is indicated 7 at l5 and this arm, as best shown by Figs. 2 andLS,

terminates at its outer end in a frusto-spherlcal shell section l6. This end of the arm I5 is connected to a link .18 that generally throughqutits length is of channel or U-shape and .which at each of itsends is provided witha frusto-spheri- It will be evident that the frusto-spherical shell sections at the ends. 7

The outer spherical surface of the section. 20

'is, complementary to and nicely fits the inner spherical surface of the end 16 of arm .I5 and such spherical shell sections arev connected together by means of a bolt 2|; This bolt has a PATENT OFFICE I head 23 that is frusto-spherical in character soas to nicely fit the inner spherical surface; of the shell section 20 and the frusto-spherical sections I6 and 20 are provided with .openings 24 and 25; respectively, for the bolt. It will be noted that the opening 25 in shell section 20. is larger than the opening in portion [6 and that. the bolt adsame diameter as the, collar 26 on the bolt so that if necessary the collar may project into the recess. On or more shims 28 are disposed in the counter-sunk recess 2! and itwill be apparent from this that if sufficient shims are placed in the recess, the bolt may be tightenedso as to draw the collar 26 up against the shims without causing a binding pressure between the shell sections l6 and 20 and bead 23. By nice adjustment I of the shims, the spherical surfaces may be mainand "a lock washer 3|" and it will be'noted that thesection I6 is flattened-on its outer sidef'as indicated at 32, so as to provide a fiat surface for engagement with the lock washer.

Now, directing attention particularly to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the opening 25 is much longer in a vertical direction than the diameter of the collar 26 although the transverse width of the opening 25 is of substantially the same diameter as the collar 26 so that the collar may work smoothly throughout the length of the opening. It will now be apparent that the link l8 can be freely and completely turned about the axis of the bolt 2| and also that it may be tilted longitudinally of such axis to the extent permitted by the length of the opening 25. More particularly, it will be noted that at any point during movement of the link I8 completely about the axis of the bolt 2|, the link may be moved longitudinally of the axis. It will be appreciated that during normal vertical movement of the frame and spring relatively, only relative turning of the link l8 and arm i about the bolt axis will occur,

' but if the frame and leaf spring tilt or more laterally with respect to each other in any manner, pivotal movement of the arm and link relatively along the axis of the bolt is permitted to compensate for the different movements.

Lubricant is injected between the spherical surfaces by means of a grease fitting 32 on the head 23 of the bolt and a passageway 33 extending to the opening 25.

The lower end of the link 18 is connected to a bracket member 36 that is secured to the spring l2 by the conventional bolts 3'! connecting the spring to the axle. This bracket, as best shown in Fig. 2 has one end formed with a frustospherical shell section 33 and the connection between the lower end of the link l8 and the shell section 38 is the same as that previously described in connection with the upper end of the link.

Figure 4 is substantially the same as Fig. 3,

' excepting that in place of shims 2B and the recess 21, the outer end of the bolt is provided with nuts Ml and 4| that locktogether, as will be well understood. In this arrangement, the nut t!) is turned until the spherical surfaces have the desired operating fit and then the nut 4| is turned until it engages the nut 40 sufiiciently to lock the latter in position. This arrangement permits of spring vertically. It will also be apparent that if the spring and frame have any other movements such as lateral sidewise or tilting movement, the pivotal connections at the ends of the link will readily accommodate this movement in a free and easy manner and without in any waybinding. Moreover it will be appreciated that the link l8 and the connections between the link, bracket, and shock absorber arm may be easily fabricated from sheet metal or fo-rgings.

Assembly of the parts is easily effected and very little difficulty is involved in placing the proper of tightness. The assembly is very inexpensive to -manufacture and assemble and is very durable in use.

Although more than one form of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail,

it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made with out departing from the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In combination, a member having a frustospherical surface and an opening extending therethrough, a bolt passing through said opening and having a head shaped to provide a frustospherical surface next to but spaced from. and concentric to said first surface, a second member having frusto-spherical inner and outer surfaces between and in engagement with the first two, surfaces and having an opening through which the bolt extends and which is substantially larger than the first opening, a shoulder on the bolt and located in said second opening and which is adapted by engagement with the first member to hold the head in predetermined spaced relation to said first member, and means for holding the bolt in position on said first member and said shoulder against the latter.

2. In combination, a member having a frustospherical surface and an opening extending therethrough, a bolt passing through said opening and having a head shaped to provide a frusto-spherical surface next to but spaced from and concentric to said first surface, a second member having frusto-spheri'cal inner and outer surfaces between and in engagement with the first two surfaces and having an opening through which the bolt extends and which is substantially larger than the first opening, a' shoulder on the bolt and located in said second opening and which is adapted by engagement with the first member to hold the head in predetermined spaced relation to said first member, and means for holding the bolt in position .on said first member and said shoulder against the latter, said opening in the second member being of elongated shape with the width of theopening substantially corresponding to the diameter of the shoulder.

3. In combination, a member having a frustospherical surface and an opening extending therethrough, a .boltpassing through said opening and having a head shaped to provide a frustospherical surface next to but spaced from'and concentric to said first surface, a second member having frusto-spherical inner and outer surfaces between and in engagement with the first two surfaces and having an enlarged opening through which the .bolt extends, an annular shoulder on the bolt and which is located in said enlarged opening, the opening in the first member being enlarged adjacent its frusto-spherical surface so as to allow the shoulder to move into the larger number of shims around the bolts or ad ustmg the lock nuts so as to obtain the proper degree portion, and means in said enlarged portion of the opening in the first member for variably changing its depth so as to vary the abutment with which the shoulder engages when the bolt is fastened-to such member.

JOHN W. LEIGHTON. 

